Frank p



Patented Sept. 3', 1895.

I'. P. HOWE. RAIL STRUCTURE.-

(No Model.)

' ifa; 6.

Nits STATES FRANK lPyifiovvE, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA-Assieme To THE. WILLIAM wHAEToN, JR., a COMPANY, 1NcoEPoEATED,oE sAME PLAGE.

RAIL lSTRUCTU RE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 545,798, dated September 3, 1 89 5.

Application filed August 29, 1894. Serial No. 5211604 (No modl-l To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, FRANK P. HOWE, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Rail Structures, ot' which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a durable and effective very hard surface or riser at the bases of the grooves at the ro point Where the rails cross each other in frogs, mates, crossings, and other similar structures, an object which I attain in the manner hereinafter set forth.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Figure l. is a view of a crossing-frog illustrating my invention. Fig. 2 is a view of the crossing-frog grooved for the reception of the riser. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3, Fig.

l. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4, Fig. 2.

zo Fig. 5 is a plan view of a switch-mate having my invention; and Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 6, Fig. 5.

Frogs, switch-mates, and crossings are subjected to unusual wear at points marked 2 5 on Figs. l'and 5, because there is not presented to the tread of the Wheels at these points the full Width of the head of the trackrails. For this reason the bottom of the groove in which the flanges of the Wheels run is at 3o these points usually raised to such a level as to result in the flange of the wheel just taking a bearing. Hence the wearingasurface at these points is the combined vsurface of the riser on which the flange of the wheel runs 3 5 and the surface on which the tread runs. It will be readily understood that where the surface presented for the tread of the wheel to run upon is small or is wanting the sharp edge of the iange will quickly Wear into the 4o riser, and this, too, even when the riser is made of rolled steel of the same quality as is used in making the adjacent rails, for the rolling friction being no less in amount at these points Y and being applied to a narrowsurface the wear is proportionately greater. This wear is still further increased at the points of frogs and crossings through their having to carry the traffic of both the main and cross tracks. It hence is desirable that the metal of which 5o these risers are made should be harder than the track-rail, to an extent at least in proportion to `the severer wear to which they are subjected. The riveting, keying, or bolting on of hardened steel risers, however, has not proven satisfactory, for the piece is comparatively thin, and the rivets, keys, or bolts used to fasten it get loose.

' My invention consists in pouring into a pocket properly prepared to receive it molten metal, which, when cold and set, willha've the 6o proper wearing qualities and will strengthen the structure and add to its stiffness. This is particularly so when the rails are secured together solely by bolts..

In Figs. l and 2 A is the main rail and B 65 is the crossing rail, these rails being secured together in the present instance by cast blocks D, the cast metal passing through perf'orations in the rails, and thus holding them rigidly together without the useof bolts or 7o rivets; but it is to be understood that my invention is not limited to frogs, mates, dre., made in this manner, but applies as well to frogs and mates made in any other manner, such as from pieces of rail riveted and bolted 7 5 together or those cast in iron, steel, or other metals.

For the reception of the riserE a pocket or pockets a are prepared in any way which may be convenient and which are preferably un- Se dercut, as shown in Fig. 4, so as to lock the riser to the rail structure Without bolts or rivets.

The molten metal is pouredin the prepared pocket a, the metal in the grooves 'being re- 85 tained by suitable caps or molds so as to be of a sufficient depth to form a riser, the molten metal passing into the pocket forming a lock, thus making the riser E practically integral with the rails. 90

The molten metal after having set is much harder than the metal of the track, so that severe wear will not injure the metal of the riser to any great extent. l

The riser can be finished in any manner desired and may extend to a greater length Vthan shown in the drawings without departing from my invention. For instance,in.the switch-mate shown in Fig. 5 the riser will be much longer than the riser shown in the crcssrco ing-frog shown in Fig. l. s

In some instances the rail structure may be turned face downward, and the metal forming the riser may be poured from the back, a suitable mold being prepared for the face of the riser.

While I have described my invention in connection with the riser, it is evident that it is applicable wherever a hard-metal section is required in a structure ot' the character described.

I claim as my inventionl. rlhe combination in a rail structure, of the intersecting rails, means for securing said rails together, each rail, being recessed at the intersecting point, with hard metal cast in the recess of the rails at the intersecting points forming a riser or wear plate and acting as an additional means of fastening the rails together, substantially as described.

2. The combination in a rail structure, of

the rails having undercut recesses at their in'- tersecting points, said rails being secured together by cast metal having formed therein cavities which are continuations of the recesses in the rails, with a metal plate cast into the recess at the intersecting point ot' the rails, said plate filling the cavities formed in the rail and the securing casing and acting as a riser or'wear plate as well as additional means for securing the rails together, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence ol two subscribingV witnesses.

FRANK P. I-IOWE. Witnesses:

A. C. McCLoY, JOSEPH H. KLEIN. 

